EDF want to change meter

GibbsRule_No3.

It is the wording of the email that is annoying me.
It starts with the headline
”Important information about your electricity meter”.
Next heading
”Your electricity meter needs replacing”
then comes the why it needs replacing.
”Like all appliances as your meter gets older it can start to not work properly. This could lead to you paying more than you should, or even worse, your meter becoming unsafe”

If they had said it is past its life date, then fine but it does feel like we have tried one way to get people to change, that failed in a high number, so let’s try some fancy wording. I don’t think it needed the “important”, information would have been good enough. I liked that they put the money bit before the safety bit. If they said it could be dangerous and I could save money if I had a replacement, I might have thought about changing.

GibbsRule_No3.

I phoned the number supplied to ask about the meter and if it worked with Economy 7. I was told to call another number and the really nice lady told me they could not install meters for Economy 7 while the COVID restrictions were on going. If I still wanted Economy 7 (of course I do, I have night storage heaters for heating). I did mention that EDF seemed to have changed track from phone calls to emails to get people to have Smart meters, so she has asked for those emails to stop and even though my meter is from 2008 it can carry on, no need to swap it for a Smart one unless I want to, if I do she said keep an eye on what is happening regarding COVID and phone back when the restrictions are relaxed.  Hope this helps other getting EDF emails.
if they can give me one that does work with E7 because the current one is from 2008 I might consider it next summer.

Carrot007

Gerry1 said:

Carrot007 said:

However due to smart roll out the government (yes government not the eliectricity suppliers who would rather it did not occur) have decalred all non smart meters legally required to be changed within X.

Would you like to advise Ofgem that they are wrong because you know something that they don't?  Ofgem's FAQs state:-

Are smart meters mandatory?

While we and the government think that all consumers will benefit from smart meters, they aren’t compulsory and you can choose not to have one installed.

Yes read more into what I said than I did.

Smart meters are not mandatory I never said that they were.

To clarify in plainer speak.

All the old meters have had their certification period recinded and need changing.

This will be for a new meter. Which will be the same meter smart enabled or not.

All I was saying is old meters are going. new meters are in. They do not have to be smart enabled currently (though you are better off with it), but I would expect somehting like the water meter thing being agreed where new occupiers have no choice in the matter. Though of course that is my speculation. With all the !!!!!! going on in the country currently I don't expect that any time soon.

Ofgem are usually wrong, but only in the way they impliment things that end up !!!!!! over all the consumers. And your quot eis just a clarification of policy which was nothing to do with them.

Talldave

GibbsRule_No3. said:

I phoned the number supplied to ask about the meter and if it worked with Economy 7. I was told to call another number and the really nice lady told me they could not install meters for Economy 7 while the COVID restrictions were on going. If I still wanted Economy 7 (of course I do, I have night storage heaters for heating). I did mention that EDF seemed to have changed track from phone calls to emails to get people to have Smart meters, so she has asked for those emails to stop and even though my meter is from 2008 it can carry on, no need to swap it for a Smart one unless I want to, if I do she said keep an eye on what is happening regarding COVID and phone back when the restrictions are relaxed.  Hope this helps other getting EDF emails.
if they can give me one that does work with E7 because the current one is from 2008 I might consider it next summer.

So they can install non-E7 meters during Covid but not E7 meters? This deadly killer virus gets more amazing every day!

GibbsRule_No3.

Seems they can, the first number from the email was the Smart booking number and until I asked about it working with E7 I could have booked an installation date. It was the customer relations EDF number that said I would have to wait for an E7 Smart enabled meter. So if you don’t need an E7 one then you can book.

seahag

We'd love an economy 7 meter but when we moved in to this new property we were told by Octopus that we can not have an E7 meter unless we take a Smart meter.  Mind, it was not a problem when they supplied E7 in our old house.  We are in our seventies and don't want something that will tell us what we know already, ie what items drain juice, we had that drummed in to us as kids in the 50s and 60s.  We just want a low cost method of using energy.  We'll try other suppliers when our fixed rate expires in April, but am expecting the same response.

Oh and another thought, aren't we all supposed to be moving to electric cars that we charge at night?

Talldave

seahag said:

We'd love an economy 7 meter but when we moved in to this new property we were told by Octopus that we can not have an E7 meter unless we take a Smart meter.  Mind, it was not a problem when they supplied E7 in our old house.  We are in our seventies and don't want something that will tell us what we know already, ie what items drain juice, we had that drummed in to us as kids in the 50s and 60s.  We just want a low cost method of using energy.  We'll try other suppliers when our fixed rate expires in April, but am expecting the same response.

Oh and another thought, aren't we all supposed to be moving to electric cars that we charge at night?

So because the smart meter that would get you the E7 you want comes with an In Home Display, you're refusing have it???

You could just put the IHD in a drawer? 

[Deleted User]

seahag said:

We'd love an economy 7 meter but when we moved in to this new property we were told by Octopus that we can not have an E7 meter unless we take a Smart meter.  Mind, it was not a problem when they supplied E7 in our old house.  We are in our seventies and don't want something that will tell us what we know already, ie what items drain juice, we had that drummed in to us as kids in the 50s and 60s.  We just want a low cost method of using energy.  We'll try other suppliers when our fixed rate expires in April, but am expecting the same response.

Oh and another thought, aren't we all supposed to be moving to electric cars that we charge at night?

I have had Octopus supplied SMETS2 smart meters for over 18 months. By using Octopus’ time-of-use tariffs (Agile/Go/Go Faster) I have made significant savings without too much load-shifting. My wife and I are both in our 70s.

Mickey666

People who don't want a smart meter are acting as if the meter belongs to them.  It doesn't.  if you want electricity then you need a meter and it's the network's choice of what they provide.  If you really want a specific type or colour of meter then you're free to negotiate your terms with the suppliers . . . just as they are free to disagree with your request.  if you can't come to an agreement then there will be no contract and therefore no electricity supply.  No much of a choice in practice, I agree, but a choice nevertheless.

Gerry1

Mickey666 said:

People who don't want a smart meter are acting as if the meter belongs to them.  It doesn't.  if you want electricity then you need a meter and it's the network's choice of what they provide.  If you really want a specific type or colour of meter then you're free to negotiate your terms with the suppliers . . . just as they are free to disagree with your request.  if you can't come to an agreement then there will be no contract and therefore no electricity supply.  No much of a choice in practice, I agree, but a choice nevertheless.

Both the Secretary of State and Ofgem have stated that nobody will be forced to have a smart meter.

The energy companies should respect that decision and not use sleight of hand to force customers to have them installed against their will.